Chapter 16

Shannon froze when she heard them. It was funny how life worked. When there was someone you didn't want to see, the more likely they were to show up. Christopher tightly hugged Shannon's legs, refusing to let go no matter how hard she struggled. It was a stark contrast from how disgusted he was with her back then. Yet, she sternly pushed him away, looking annoyed. Christopher looked at Shannon, stunned. He couldn't understand how someone who'd loved him in the past would hate him so much now. He hadn't seen her for an entire year, and when he finally did, all he received was her irritation. Thomas looked at her tearily. "Where exactly have you been in the past year, Shannon? I looked everywhere for you, yet I could never find you. Chris and I miss you—please come back, okay, Shannon?" His voice trembled as he spoke, his words heartfelt. Yet Shannon merely coldly replied, "We can no longer go back to how we were before, Thomas." Thomas was in disbelief. He reached out to grab he